George d



(No Model.)

G. D. LEEDLE. LAWN MOWER CLUTCH.

No. 479,192. Patented July 19, 1892.

L I I l viltmeaoao Suva/whom I Y I UNTTED STATES PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE D. LEEDLE, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE G. S. FOOS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LAWN-MOWER CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,192, dated July 19, 1892.

Application filed May 25, 1891.

To all whom/it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. LEEDLE, a citizen of the United States, residin gat Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lawn-Mower Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in lawn-mower clutches; and the object of my ro invention is to provide asimple clutch adapted to produce a forward movement of a lawnmower reel when the mower is moved in a forward direction and permit the drivingwheels to run independent of said reel when moved in a backward direction, the clutches being so constructed that the parts are positively caused to engage in the forward direction and positively disengaged in a backward direction.

A further object of my invention is to so construct the parts that when the driving connection is broken the parts are completely thrown out of engagement, so as to obviate wear thereon.

I attain these objects by the constructions shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan view of a clutch embodying my invention, the driving-pinion being partly broken away and shown in section and a portion of a driving-wheel of a lawnmower being shown engaging with said pinion. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the intermediate clutch-ring in detail. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a pinion, showing the engaging recesses therein.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In the said drawings, A represents a driving or carrying wheel of a lawn-mower; B, a pinion adapted to engage with the internal spur-gear of said wheel.

0 is a reel-shaft on which said pinion is adapted to turn loosely.

D is a clutch-collar secured rigidly to said shaft.

D is an intermediate clutch collar having projections on one side adapted to engage in similarly-shaped projections on the face of 50 the clutch-collar D. The intermediate collar D is provided with laterally-extending pro- Serial No. 394,092. (No model.)

jections, a, which extend into recesses or pockets a in the side of the pinion B, the said pockets or recesses being provided with beveled or inclined bottoms a, adapted to engage 5 5 the ends of the projections a, which are also correspondingly beveled or inclined. A projecting shoulder a is adapted to engage with one side of the projection to when the pinion Bis revolved in one direction, and an oppo- 6o sitely-arranged shoulder a is adapted to engage with the opposite side of said projection when the pinion is revolved in the opposite direction. Means are provided for holding the pinion against lateral movement on the shaft 0, which may be accomplished by a collar secured rigidly on said shaft.

As the pinion is revolved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 the inclined bottoms a of the respective recesses engaging with the projections a force the intermediate sleeve laterally on the shaft until the shoulders a strike said projections. The engaging projections on the clutch-collars D and D by this movement have been forced into engagement, and all the parts are caused to revolve together.

The engaging projections on the respective collars D and D are formed in the nature of ratchet-teeth having driving-faces b and 0 and inclined faces Z) and c. As the pinion is revolved in the opposite direction the shoulder a in each of the pockets or recesses comes against its driving projection and causes the intermediate collar D to revolve in the opposite direction. The inclined faces b 0' force the intermediate collar laterally on the shaft until the respective collars are disengaged, the projections a being forced into the pockets or recesses in the pinion.

To prevent rattling of the parts and lessen the wear thereon, I preferably provide a straight bearing-face b c on the respective collars between the respective ratchet-teeth thereof, so that when the parts are revolving 9 5 in opposite directions a bearing-surface is secured between the respective parts in the event that they are caused to move laterally by the vibration of the machine or in the event of the machine being placed on an incline or otherwise. It will be seen that as thus constructed in the ordinary operation of the clutch, the

parts oeing in a horizontal position, the respective clutch-collars will be when the driving connection is broken completely and positively disconnected, thus preventing the noise and rattle which would otherwise result from the engaging parts when operating in opposite directions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is a 1. The combination, with a shaft having a rigid collar with ratchet projections and a driving-pinion located loosely on said shaft and provided with pockets with inclined bottoms, of an intermediate clutch-collar located between said rigid collar and pinion, ratchet projections on one side of said clutch-collar to engage with the rigid collar, and drit ingprojections on the opposite side thereof adapted to extend into said pockets and engage said inclined bottoms, said driving projections and pockets being provided with engaging faces on opposite sides, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with a shaft and a rigid collar having ratchet-teeth, of an intermediate movable collar having similar en gaging teeth, and a driving wheel or pinion having cam-faces adapted when revolved in one direction to produce a lateral movement of said intermediate collar, and bearing-faces on the engaging projections of the respective collars, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with a shaft, a rigid collar having teeth in the face thereof, and a driving-pinion mounted loosely on said shaft, of an intermediate laterally-movable collar provided on one side with ratchet projections to engage with said rigid "collar and on the other side with said straight driving edges and inclined bearing-faces adapted to be engaged by similar straight and inclined faces on said pinion,whereby the intermediate collar is caused to be moved laterally and revolved positively by said pinion, substantially as specified.

4. In a clutch, a pinion provided atone end with an inclined and a positive face for exerting an axial and a rotary impulse, respectively, and with a rear face for exerting a rotary impulse.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of May, A. D. 1891.

GEORGE D. LEEDLE.

Witnesses:

PAUL A. SnALEY, WM. COLTER. 

